Variable-speed clutch



OctfS, 1929. J. F. GAYLORD 1,730,352

VARIABLE SPEED CLUTCH Filed Sept. 15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l anon dotJohn Ffiaylord 0d. 8, 1929. V Q 1,730,362

VARIABLE SPEED CLUTCH Filed Sept. 15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gyvuentoo IJohnFG Patented Oct. 8, 1929 4 PATE NT; omcr.

mm FLETCHER GAYLORD, or FLINT, mciirem VARIABLE-SPEED cnucncnApplication filed September 15, 1927. serial No. 219,697. 1

My invention relates to clutches for variable speed transmissions forautomobiles or the like and particularly to that type of trans missionin which the gears are constantly engaged and is an improvement overthat shown in my Patent No. 1,659,525, granted February 14, 1928.

It is an object of the invention to provide a more durable andsimplified structure as well asone more eflicient in operation and inwhich the operation of changing gears may be accomplished-with minimumeffort, all as will be hereinafter more particularly described andclaimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof andon which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, I

Figure 1 is a lon 'tudinal vertical section illustrating the app cationof my invention,

certain of the parts being shown in eleva-- tion,

Figure 2, a similar fragmentary view with the (parts in position forintermediate forwar speed,

Figure 3, a similar fragmentary detail viewd with the parts in positionfor high spee Figure 4, a side elevation of the second or intermediatespeed crowngear,

Figure 5, a side elevation of the second or intermediate speed clutchmember,

Figure 6, an elevation from the opposite side of the high speed clutchmember, 3 Figure 7 a detail perspective of one of the keys, and e FFigure 8, a section on the line 8-8 of is. 3. In the drawings referencecharacter 10 in dicates a transmission caseor housin in which aremounted a motor or driving s aft- 11 and a driven shaft 12, the motorshaft 11 being provided with a socket or recess 13in ,its end into whichthe reduceden'd 14 of the jdriven shaft 12 extends. A bearing sleeve \15is preferably mounted in the recess 13 about the reduced end of saiddriven shaft and a. thrust-bearing l6 is preferablyprovided between theend of the drivenshaft and the inner end of5the recess 13,foraccommodating the end thrusts of the respective shafts. I

The extremity of the motor or' driving shaft 11 is provided with anexternal gear 17 disposed within the housing 10, such gear being,carried in a manner to insure positive rotation therewith. Thedriven-shaft. 12 is supported in axial alinement with the driving shaftand is providedwith upstanding longitudinally disposed ribs or splines18 having slots or recesses 19 extending longitudinally between thesame. A pair of keys 21 are slidably mounted in the diametricallyopposed slots or recesses 19 and said keys are provided with reducedextensions 20 which are riveted to a pair of clutch members 22 and 23mounted at each end of the keys 21 adjacent the gears 17 and 26. Theclutch members 22 and 23 are provided with recesses 24 and 25 formedcomplementarily relative to the ribs 18 on the driven shaft whereby theclutch members 22 and 23 are slidably'but non-rotatably mounted on thedriven shaft. The clutch member 22 is provided with abeveled or inclinedperipheral face for cooperation withv a complementarybeveled face formedin the side of the gear 17. Likewise the clutch member 23 is providedwith a beveled or inclined peripheral face for cooperation with acomplementary beveled face formedin, the side of a gear 26 which isrotatably mounted on the shaft 12. The gear 26 is provided with aninternal annular groove 26' which acts in conjunction with a. springpressed ball 48' to hold" the gear in the proper position on the shaft12. The beveled perilpheral surfaces of the clutch members 22 an taperinwardly from the adjacent sides of said clutch members so that whenthey are moved in opposite directions longitudinally of their supportingshaft they will friction' ally engage their respective gears for.synchroniz ng' the movement between each clutch member and itscooperating gear when no load is being carried by the driven shaft.

In order to positively lock the gears 1'? and 26 to the driven shaft 12,when they have been caused to rotate in synchronism therewith by meansof the clutch members 22' and 23, I provide a gear drive lock whichcomprises a 20 der to effect the clutching operations.

. pairof oppositely disposed internally toothed clutch members 27 and 28provided with slots for the reception qf the ribs or splines 18 and theshort keys 21, said internally toothed clutch members being integrallyformed or otherwise maintained in spaced relation and slidablybutnon-rotatably mounted upon the driven shaft 12, the smaller forwardinternally toothed clutch member being of a size to directly cooperatewith or engage the peripheral teeth of the gear 17 on the driving shaftin order to effect a direct drive and the larger rear internally toothedclutch member being of a size to cooperate with or directly engage theperipheral teeth of the loosely mounted gear 26 for causing the same torotate in synchronism' with the driven shaft 12. A yoke 29 is providedfor shifting the internally toothed clutch members longitudinally intocooperation with their respective gears in or- Inorder to cause therespective clutch members to engage their respective gears in advance ofthe positive locking together of the members 17, 27 and 26, 28, Iprovide recesses or depressions 30, 31 and 51 in each of the keys 21 forcooperation with balls 32 urged radially inwardly by means-of radiallydisposed springs 33 mounted in recesses in the internally toothed clutchmember 28, screw plugs 34 being provided for adjusting the tension ofthe springs and for holding them in proper position.

As shown in Fig. 1, the balls 32 rest in the recesses 30 when the partsare in neutra l posis tion, in the depressions or recesses 31 when theparts are in position for direct drive or high gear and in the recesses51 when the parts are in position for second gear. When the balls 32rest in the depressions 30 in the keys 21 and the yoke 29 is shifted forchanging the gears, the tension ofthe springs 33 cause the keys to bemoved longitudinally in their slots until they press the respectiveclutch member 22 or 23 to which they are attached into engagement withits cooperating gear and synchronize the rotative movement of the shaft12 and the respective gear to which itis clutched. Continued movement ofthe yoke 29 will cause the balls 32 to ride or snap out oftheddpressions and cause a quick engagement of the internally toothedclutch member with the respective gear to which it is being locked. Atthe same time the inactive clutch member 22 or 23 will be withdrawn fromongagement with its respective gear and prevent unnecessary friction andconsequent wear on the parts as well as simplify synchronization.

An auxiliary or stub shaft 35 is mounted in the housing 10 below thedriven shaft in parallel relation theretoand has fixed thereon at itsforward end a large gear 36 which is constantly in mesh with the gear 17fixed on the driving or motor shaft and by means of which the auxiliaryor stub shaft will be constantly rotated from the motor or drivingshaft.

In order to produce an indirect drive or a drive by means of which theratio between the-* driving and drivenshafts is varied, I provide asecond gear 37 fixed on the stub shaft 35 which gear is constantly in'mesh with the loosely mounted gear 26 and by means of which intermediateor second speed may be effected. The auxiliary or stub shaft is alsopreferably provided with fixed gears 38 and 39 by meansof which low andreverse speeds may-be accomplished by means of a gear 40 splined on thedrivenshaft and slidable by means of a yoke 41 into engagement with thegear 38 for effecting low gear, and slidable into engagement with anintermediate gear 42 which engages the gear 39 for'causing a reverserotation of the driven shaft.

In order to limit the movement of the intermediate or second speedgear26 onthe driven shaft, the ribs or splines 18 are preferably providedwith upstanding projections or lugs 43 which cooperate to produce suchresult.

The shifting yokes 29 and 41 are supported by means of axially movablerods'44 which are movable by means of a gear shift lever 45,

a spring pressed pin 46 being adapted to seat 1n recesses or depressions47 for maintaining the rods 44 in definite longitudinal positions.

It will beobvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in my der scribed in the specification, but only as set forth inthe appended claims.

Having thus fully desoribed my saidinvention, what'I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A clutch for use in variable speed transmlsslons comprising arotatable shaft havmg a plurality of longitudinally disposed spllnesthereon, lugs on some of said splines, a transmission elementlooselymounted on said shaft about said splines and limited in 1tsmovement in one direction by said lugs, a clutch member slidably mountedon said shaft and held against rotation by said splines, a body having aclutch face for engagement with said transmission element, and keysassociated with said bod and frictionally and yieldingly held in POSI-tion by said clutch member whereby when the same is moved towardclutching engagement said keys will be operated to move said body havingthe clutch face into frictional engagement with said transmissionelement, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a rotary shaft, a gearrotatably mounted on saidshaft, means for holding said gear. against axial move gitudinally onsaid shaft and supportin said member having a clutch face, said keysheing provided withlongitudinally spaced depressions, a clutch membernon-rotatable on said shaft and having resilient means adapted to engagesaid depressions, and means for sliding said clutch memberlongitudinally of the shaft for causing the engagementof the same withsaid gear, the resilient means engaging the keys being adapted to forcethem endwise for causing the engagement of the member having the clutchface and the gear for synchronizing the rotation of the shaft and gear,the pressure of the resilient means upon the keys determining the amountof pressure 'exerted between the member having a clutch face and thegear and said resilient means being1 adapted to yield to permit theclutch mem er to snap into engagement with said gear, substantially asset forth.

3. The combination of a rotary shaft, a gear rotatably mounted on saidshaft, a frictional clutch member engageable with said gear, keyslongitudinally slidable on said shaft, and supporting said frictionalclutch member, a second clutch member slidable over saidkeys intoengagement with said gear, means carried by said second clutch memberresiliently engaging said keys, and means'for shifting said secondclutch member, 4 whereby said keys will be moved longitudinally alongthe shaft under the action of the resilient means to bring thefrictional clutch member into engagement with the gear, said resilientmeans being adapted to yield upon the application of suificient pressureand 2 permit the direct engagement of the second mentioned clutchmember, and the gear, substantially as set forth. A In Witness whereof,I have hereunto set my hand at Flint, Michigan, this 7th day ofSeptember, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty-seven.

JOHN FLETCHER GAYLORD.

